Ranieri Welcomes New Member To LCFC's 'RAF'

- The manager discusses what he hopes his four new signings can bring to the squad 

- Musa joins Nampalys Mendy, Luis Hernandez and Ron-Robert Zieler for the Foxes’ training camp in Austria 

- Ranieri believes the good feeling at the Club comes from the Chairman 

Claudio Ranieri was delighted to add another ‘airplane’ to his Leicester City version of the Royal Air Force as he discussed the new faces in his squad. 

Last season the manager joked regularly that his side were like the RAF in attack, as they pushed forward with so much speed, and now with new boy Ahmed Musa set to bolster the forward ranks, the manager couldn’t be happier. 

Musa is City’s most recent addition, following the signings of Nampalys ‘Papy’ Mendy, Ron-Robert Zieler and Luis Hernandez, and speaking to Foxes Player HD out in Austria, the manager stressed that each player could bring something to the party. 

“Musa can bring his speed,” said Ranieri. “I don’t know if he’s as quick as Jamie Vardy, but he has lots of speed. It’s very important to have another airplane in our squad. Remember, we are the RAF and we’ve signed one of them!” 

Another player the manager has been impressed with so far on the Austrian training camp is Mendy – a player who worked under Claudio during his spell in charge of AS Monaco as a youngster. 

He added: “I know very well Papy because I put him in my squad in Monaco when he was so young. He played all the matches with me and was a very important layer in Moncao. I think he could help us this season. 

“His character is fantastic. He’s a nice boy and like Kanté, never you can hear him He’s always laughing and always works hard for the team. He’s a hard worker and very good. 

“Ron-Robert Zieler already was in England [earlier in his career with Manchester United] and had a very good season in Germany. He’s a very reactive player and he’s very good for us to have a good player to fight and give us competition in every situation and position. I’m very happy with him. 

“I also believe in this guy (Luis Hernandez). He’s very good. He can play right back and centre back. He’s very smart and good with the ball. I think it’s good to have a player like him here.” 

Each new signing has spoken of their excitement at joining such a close squad and Club ahead of the new season. For Ranieri, that’s a feeling that starts with the owners. 

He explained: “The atmosphere I‘ve said so many times in the dressing room is fantastic. But in the staff too – the fitness and technical staff too. 

“I think everything good comes from the Chairman. The Chairman is fantastic and all the people behind him are fantastic. We try to buy the right people and then good players.”